Chapter 134

Chapter 134

***

Like cleanly cutting it off with a knife, the desolate desert region ended, and a green wetland unfolded. How this happened, it was so bizarre it felt unnatural.

"It's the Golden Delta. Ahead of here is a wetland larger than most countries. It goes by names like the Empire of Witches, or the region created by the rotting corpse of an ancient god. Going up the river leads to a floodplain, where crops grow just by scattering seeds. There's no one starving, and they have enough left over even after exporting grain to the whole world. This place is exactly the Mayub Sultanate."

Riding alongside the river upstream, Hashim said. Rickart looked down at the wetland from atop the red horse.

"Doesn't sound like very good news. Because that ill-mannered bastard seemed to be a prince of this country. There will definitely be a pursuit team."

"Well, will there really?"

"What do you mean?"

"Here, the Sultan creates a harem and bears children. It's common to have more than a hundred children."

"What's a harem?"

"A place gathering beauties that only the Sultan can embrace. It probably varies by Sultan, but there are at least dozens."

"......No matter if you're a heathen I try to have a respectful attitude, but that's too incomprehensible."

"Anyway, a Sultan invariably has at least dozens, no, over a hundred children. It's rare for them to care much just because one prince meets a mishap. Of course, it's entirely up to the Sultan's heart though."

Perhaps because it was an unfamiliar and exotic foreign custom, Rickart felt completely strange. Isn't that too promiscuous? And apart from being promiscuous, wouldn't it be noisy with succession issues if that happens.

"Still, only the queen's children would have the right of succession, right?"

"No. In other Sultanates only the children of the official wife, the queen, have the right of succession, but the Mayub Sultanate is a bit special. They are all official princes."

"Then how on earth does succession occur? To be honest, even our Empire had problems because the previous Emperor had many children."

"'Although it is a barbaric custom, through this method we have raised strong warriors possessing both wisdom and courage.' Those are the words spoken by Shazar, the first king of the Mayub Sultanate."

"What does that mean?"

"A succession method where the princes are made to kill each other, and the final victor becomes the king. The means and methods are free. Whether committing assassination, or waging a war."

"......"

At the bloody succession method that made him wonder if this was really okay, Rickart lost his words for a moment.

However, ironically, thanks to that succession method peace was maintained well. Because only the princes, and those involved needed to fight, the general populace wasn't swept up in the flames of war.

And if a prince ascended to kingship through such a method, at the very least his ability to handle political machinations or military forces was excellent.

But is that method truly the right one? In Rickart's view, it wasn't. Because he thought a person who ascended to the throne after killing his brothers would definitely have severely deficient and lacking parts.

If he could kill his brothers so easily, what would he think of other people's lives.

Fundamentally, the Mayub Sultanate itself was a country established by nomads occupying this land, so it definitely had a somewhat barbaric yet strong military ethos.

Having set foot in such a place, staying long wasn't beneficial. Rickart thought he should quickly pass by after resupplying grass to feed the horses, drinking water, and rations.

But there was one serious problem.

"Say, you probably intend to keep riding that horse, right?"

"I'm a man too, so wouldn't it be natural to be covetous of a horse? But I'm going to treat this horse as a friend. Since I promised so."

"No, what I mean is, won't it inevitably stand out, is what I'm saying."

The horse Rickart was riding was excessively red. When it caught the light and its coat gleamed, it looked exactly like seeing a flame. Thus there was no way it wouldn't stand out.

"That is true...... Speaking of which let's pass through this region quickly."

"That sounds good. If it gets dangerous I will help you. Originally I lived just getting caught as a slave and rolling with it, but doesn't seem to be the case this time."

Robbers or bandits generally didn't kill people either. Why would they kill when they could just sell them. Places where the slave trade flourished were especially so.

"No. Hashim, you only use magic to protect yourself. Use that hidden card of yours mostly. There is no need for you to use magic for me."

"Weren't friends supposed to help each other?"

"Helping and sacrificing are different. A true friend does not wish for their friend to sacrifice."

"Is that so...... Understood. You seem to know better about friends than me."

"Hahaha, what is there to know or not know. That's just how it is."

"Just how it is huh...... Then what if one wishes to sacrifice for a friend? And what if they already sacrificed for a friend, how would the remaining friend feel?"

"Well, they would be sad."

"A difficult problem indeed."

Is that a difficult problem? Rickart thought he didn't really know either. Because if such a situation ever arose, he felt he would plunge in regardless of fire or water.

But conversely, if a friend did that for me, I would be thankful but also wish they hadn't.

"Seems like it. It's difficult."

Unable to easily give an answer, Rickart affirmed Hashim's words.

Walking along the border of the wetland, before long a small city called Ayaba appeared. It was one of the satellite cities of the capital, Yereb.

Upon entering that city, people all stared at Rickart. More accurately, they were staring at the bright red horse. Since it was an obviously rare coat color, it couldn't help but stand out.

Rickart almost shamelessly raised his head and walked confidently instead. And going to the manger next to the inn, he fed the horse plenty of water and fodder.

When going a long distance, or when pursuing, or shaking off a pursuit, it was good to use multiple horses.

No matter if it was a fine horse that ran a thousand miles a day, it couldn't beat running while changing horses.

Then how much should a horse be allowed to rest. That was truly a difficult problem.

Moreover, warhorses weren't ridden ordinarily. They were truly saved and ridden at crucial moments; knights or cavalry warriors here ordinarily rode riding horses.

However, Rickart's red horse was in a state of just being tamed, and the horse Hashim rode was quite good but wasn't a warhorse to begin with.

Combat capability in horseback combat was accounted for by the horse's performance by more than 70 percent. The rider's skill was important too, but no matter what, if you fell behind in horse performance there was nothing you could do.

By the way, the gazes of the citizens staring at Rickart and the red horse were unusual. Clearly, it was different from just staring because of fascination.

Rickart realized instinctively.

"It seems a wanted order has already been issued."

"Mm? Then what about the resupply?"

"Let's get out first and think. Even if we have to catch and eat lizards in the wild."

"Let's do that."

Rickart flipped a silver coin to the stable boy, and exited the city as nonchalantly as possible. Heading west, a huge stone bridge crossing the river was seen.

There was a guard post at the entrance of the bridge, and although soldiers and warriors weren't inspecting people one by one, looking at their eyes, it seemed they were looking for someone.

Then their eyes locked exactly with Rickart's, and they stared at the red horse.

"Pretend you don't know me and go ahead first."

Rickart whispered to Hashim. While doing so, he turned his horse's head and temporarily separated from Hashim. Sure enough, warriors and soldiers walked toward Rickart.

No, they seemed to be intending to surround him broadly while sending hand signals busily somewhere.

At a certain distance, a warrior riding a horse said to Rickart.

"Hey there, Franken knight. That horse is a horse cherished by the Sultan."

"Didn't you see wrong?"

Rickart asked back shamelessly but it didn't work. There's no way it would.

"I have never seen a horse this bright red before in the world."

"Well whatever, I don't know the name but it's a horse I obtained by making a bet with a prince. So I didn't steal it, nor did I rob it. Is the king of this country someone who covets others' horses?"

As Rickart deliberately provoked, the warrior's gaze turned cold.

"......Don't act so arrogant. Barbarian."

"You too."

Rickart quickly looked around from atop his horse. And saw Hashim who was crossing the bridge right now. He judged the time had come.

Making a judgment, without hesitation the sword at his waist was drawn.

"Where I lived and here, when you have to protect what is yours, you have to fight, it seems it's exactly the same. And if you want to take someone else's, you have to risk your life too, I assume? Giddy up!"

Rickart spurred and charged toward the warrior. Then the warrior pulled out a curved sword to counterattack, but as the red horse's acceleration was much faster than expected, he twisted his waist to dodge, almost as if falling off his horse.

Rickart ignored whether he dodged or not and dashed toward the bridge. However, there was a problem. Since there were many ordinary people passing on the bridge, he couldn't generate proper speed.

"Step aside! Step aside!"

Rickart abruptly shouted. Then people got surprised and panicked, seemingly blocking the path even more because of that. Damn it.

Naturally, enemies came pursuing from behind, and soldiers were also just rushing in from the opposite side to catch Rickart. Fortunately, Hashim had already crossed the bridge.

Unable to come or go, Rickart suddenly looked down at the river water from the bridge. The current wasn't that strong. But seeing the width of the river, it seemed the water would be deep.

"Do you know how to swim?"

Rickart asked the horse. Then as if it even understood human words, the red horse vaulted up and plunged splash into the river.

Instantly the horse and person were submerged in water, but the red horse somehow flailed its limbs, balanced itself, and swam.

Though the horse couldn't swim fast due to its physical structure, so it was very slow. The water sloshed right below Rickart's nose.

Anyway, a horse swimming with a person on its back was truly a fascinating and bizarre sight, so both ordinary people and soldiers stared with their eyes widened.

But anyway the soldiers were those who came to get the red horse back so they hurriedly went to the riverside to catch Rickart. On the opposite side of the river, chillingly blue spears and swords awaited Rickart.

But as it reached the riverside to an extent and the red horse's hooves began to touch the ground, suddenly the horse surged up exactly like a red dragon ascending to heaven.

Neighhhhh-!

It was an unbelievable jumping power. In the water no less.

Jumping up almost the height of a person, the soldiers panicked and scattered, and the cavalry warriors at least swung their curved swords to kill Rickart.

But Rickart also stretched his sword toward the opponent while balancing himself.

Clang-!

As golden flames surged on the blade, he cut the enemy's sword and killed the warrior. The warrior's armor was split, and he collapsed spilling blood from his neck and upper body.

"Jihadra! It's a Franken Jihadra!"

Someone among the soldiers shouted. In their language, Holy Warrior, meaning Sword Master in a free translation.

Rickart killed one warrior and quickly ran the horse. However despairingly, an army was already standing by right across the river.

And they were the Sultanate's strongest elite cavalry unit, equipped with civilization's armor while keeping the traditions of nomads.

Among them, sure enough, there was a person wearing a huge turban on his head and shining luxurious armor; whoever looked at him could tell it was the King, the Sultan.

Rickart and his eyes met. Whether it was because he became King after killing his brothers, his gaze was like a blade. With an impression that he wouldn't bat an eye even if a son died, it seemed he was doing this entirely because of the horse.

Anyway, the situation turned urgent, and warriors came to catch Rickart holding lasso ropes, grappling hooks, spears, swords, and the like. If he fell off the horse or something he was done for.

The silver lining in the misfortune was that since they came to retrieve the red horse at all costs, they didn't use things like arrows. Actually, their greatest strength was horseback archery.

Rickart dashed sideways without questioning this and that. The red horse raised its acceleration again and reached top speed instantly.

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

It was the fastest, but unfortunately, the horses ridden by the Sultan's warriors were also warhorses with strictly selected pedigrees and special training. So he couldn't shake them off completely.

As dozens of heavy horses dashed kicking the ground vigorously, it truly felt like the earth was vibrating.

Dudududududududu!

Dust clouds rose thickly behind, and the city's citizens and villagers watched this astonishing pursuit. It wasn't a commonly seen sight, and the Sultan didn't take his eyes off watching either.

The watching people felt anxious without realizing. And with the red color standing out and seemingly leading in the race, their hearts pointlessly leaned that way.

But how must the person himself feel. Rickart's heart was pounding. At the same time, judging it was impossible to shake them off by running fast, he abruptly pulled the reins.

Then the red horse suddenly stopped, and Rickart almost flew forward. But he barely barely held on, and the warriors couldn't reduce their speed momentarily.

And actually, even if they wanted to, they couldn't due to the concern of a traffic accident with their allies following closely behind.

Rickart quickly changed direction, pierced through a thread-like opening, and dashed west.

However since there were so many pursuers to begin with, one warrior at the rear stuck close and tried to stab with his sword.

Rickart stepped on the stirrups, almost standing up, and raised his flaming sword high upwards. The flames fluttered violently in the wind.

Just then the warrior's sword stabbed in hook, and at the same time, Rickart clenched his teeth and struck down forcefully.

Crack! Thwack!

Simultaneously as Rickart broke the opponent's sword, he almost split the warrior in half. And still having power left, he cut the saddle and even slaughtered the horse.

A massive amount of blood spouted as the horse and person corpses fell forward, and the pursuing warriors tripped on it and tumbled violently.

Thwack! Thwack! Crack! Thwack!

Neighhhh!

As horses collided with each other and collapsed messily, the warriors riding on top were either flung far away, or crashed to the ground getting completely smashed or crushed.

At the truly terrible and spectacular sight, the watching people burst out in admiration without realizing.

"Wow!"

Anyway, with this Rickart pierced through the enemies and took a breather.

But it wasn't over. As there is an old tale of selling a kingdom for a single horse, the enemies absolutely didn't give up either.

This time, lightly armed ones came pursuing widely as if surrounding him. Unlike the earlier heavily armed warriors, they truly had no armor and merely carried one rope and one weapon, pursuing him as if in a race.

Moreover, perhaps because they ran after being on standby, their horse conditions were fresh.

At this point, Rickart wondered, Ah, as expected is one horse too much? And wondered if he should just fight to the death. Just then someone called him.

"Ricky!"

Startled, he looked back to see Hashim running from the side. He suddenly got off his horse, and spread his two arms wide toward the pursuing enemies as if he was going to just be trampled. What is he doing? Rickart's eyes widened.

But suddenly the black pupils disappeared from Hashim's eyes, the whites glaring, and he trembled all over as if having a seizure.

Then instantly dark clouds formed in the sky, hiding the sun. The dark clouds grew thicker, and pitch-black shadows covered Hashim and his surroundings.

At the bizarre sight, the ones pursuing Rickart also widened their eyes not knowing the context.

Just then abruptly, things like thick and long octopus tentacles haphazardly sprang out from the thick shadows. As they grabbed the horses' legs, torsos, or necks randomly and slammed them down, chaos erupted without a moment to do anything.

Thwack! Smack! Crack! Thwack! Smack!

As a truly terrible and fearful sight unfolded before their eyes, everyone including Rickart was surprised. Someone shouted.

"It's a mage!"

Befitting brave warriors, although they were flustered and surprised, they didn't fall into a panic.

But from this point on they pulled out bows and started to open up distance. Now perhaps going for broke, they nocked arrows and pulled the bowstrings. No matter how powerful the magic was, what could he do if they sniped from afar?

Rickart realized it was a big trouble and hurriedly turned the horse's head. What happens if a friend sacrifices for me? Then I must sacrifice too. There was no room for question.

The red horse hadn't just run moderately but had run at full speed for quite a while, so it was foaming at the mouth white. If they went back here, it might be the end.

"Hashim!"

Arrows flew past exactly flashing around Rickart, and were shot toward the pitch-black abyss as well. Then the shadow vanished with a swoosh, revealing Hashim collapsed unconsciously on the ground.

Rickart urgently put his sword into his scabbard, and almost performing acrobatics, leaned his body sideways to grab and pull him up firmly with one arm. And tucked him under his side and ran.

The enemies, true to nomadic characteristics, instantly blocked the direction Rickart was running to. Blocked on all sides. One side was an almost vertical dry slope, and three sides were enemies.

But for some reason, Rickart dashed toward the slope as if he was going to ram into it. They all watched with dumbfounded expressions wondering what the heck he was doing, but soon after an unbelievable sight unfolded before their eyes.

The red horse, as if ascending to heaven, was dashing exactly like flat ground up the almost vertical slope. It was physically impossible work.

And, from the dark-clouded sky, a thunderous chorus burst out.

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ohhh!

Rickart finally climbed the slope and reached the top. He stopped the horse there and looked down the slope; by this point, even the brave warriors looked up dumbfounded.

What was that just now? Was it the voice of God? More importantly, how did he get up there? Is this not a miracle.

Rickart too, a feeling of elation that couldn't be explained swelled up now, his pounding heart feeling like it would burst. So he burst into a loud laugh without realizing.

"Wahahahahahahaha!"

The most outstanding elite warriors of the Sultanate looked up with stupid expressions like dogs chasing chickens.

Rickart, who just laughed for a while, turned the horse's head and was about to go, when a clear ringing voice echoed.

"Hear ye! Knight of Franken!"

Rickart looked down to see the Sultan. He too had ridden his horse all the way here and was looking up at Rickart.

"I am Sultan Aslaf! What is your name!"

Rickart also looked down at him and shouted.

"I am Rickart of Stormhearts! Forgive me for not showing courtesy given the situation is like this!"

Hearing it, Aslaf Sultan figured Rickart was his name, but not knowing what Stormhearts meant, he asked the civil official beside him.

"What does Stormhearts mean?"

"It means the Heart of the Storm."

Then the Sultan took it as Rickart's nickname or title, not knowing it was a region's name. As expected, a fitting title indeed.

He looked up again and shouted.

"Heart of the Storm from afar! I have seen your martial prowess well! You have proven you have the qualification to be the master of that horse! The Hazid Plateau has rough paths so come down and go! I, in the name of Aslaf, guarantee your safety and peace within my country!"

Saying so, the Sultan had his subordinates place spare horses and food, silk and treasures, armors and weapons and the like on the ground, then led his army and withdrew.

As Rickart looked at the Sultan and the soldiers moving away in bewilderment, the dark clouds formed by magic cleared and several streams of sunlight fell cleanly onto the ground in straight lines. Are those guys really leaving?

After a little time passed, Hashim woke up.

"Ughmm......"

"Are you conscious?"

"Mm? Ah, my. It turned out like that. Anyway, we are both safe I see?"

"Fortunately you didn't forget me."

Rickart said with a smile. Hashim didn't remember what happened while he was using magic, but he knew enough that Rickart hadn't abandoned him and left.

"Is this what friendship is?"

"Something like that I suppose."

"By the looks of it, friendship seems to create miracles."

Hashim said looking down the slope. It was because the Sultan's warriors couldn't be seen, and some good horses and treasures were seen instead. To him without memories, they couldn't help but look as if they suddenly dropped from the sky.

"Seems like it."

Rickart said. The two people took a long detour down, and also fed the hardworking horse plenty of water and food.

And, taking the treasures, they set off to the west again as if nothing had happened.